T Key Locks

[dosxuk]

You shouldn't be able to buy any railway related keys that could breach security measures, nor should any non railway employee be in possession of any railway keys.

In the case of T-keys, they're not a railway exclusive locking device. I have a couple in my toolbox (bought legitimately) used regularly for accessing things like ceiling hatches and maintenance cupboards in buildings as part of my work. The design of the locks involved means even if they were originally designed for exclusive railway use (and I doubt that is the case), they'd be copied and used elsewhere. I doubt it's possible to design a simpler or cheaper, but equally robust, mechanism, hence their popularity.

 

[CC 72100]

In the case of T-keys, they're not a railway exclusive locking device. I have a couple in my toolbox (bought legitimately) used regularly for accessing things like ceiling hatches and maintenance cupboards in buildings as part of my work. The design of the locks involved means even if they were originally designed for exclusive railway use (and I doubt that is the case), they'd be copied and used elsewhere. I doubt it's possible to design a simpler or cheaper, but equally robust, mechanism, hence their popularity.

My ceiling ventilation in a flat I rented next year was 'accessed via the supplied black plastic t-key' (or so the manual said).

With no plastic t-key provided, turns out my railway one (obtained and used legitimately) was a perfect fit!

 

[amarshe]

It's like standard station bin keys.
You can pick them up from Wilko for £2.50 as the same locks are found on household electrical and gas meters (if they're outside).

You can also get them for free from your gas/electricity supplier...just phone and ask...

 

[Randomer]

T-Keys were also incredibly popular in theatres at one point for locking things like lighting positions from casual access in auditoriums (mostly seeming to date from refurbs by a couple of big companies in the 1970s-80s). I have two in my toolkit for such a purpose.

If people will forgive a Youtube link for another interest of mine just how common "secure" keying actually is:

A long talk but worth it (the bit about the USAF missile keys actually being incredibly common is hilarious)